Even as government is still toying with the idea of regulating importation of rice through the ports and land borders, we can confirm that 137185 metric tonnes of the staple food were shipped into the country in February 2012through the country’s main terminal for rice; ENL Terminal.
Available statistics from the Nigerian Port Authority indicate that only ENL terminal handled all the vessels that called at the Lagos Port Complex with rice last month.
Even as government is still toying with the idea of regulating importation of rice through the ports and land borders, we can confirm that 137185 metric tonnes of the staple food were shipped into the country in February 2012through the country’s main terminal for rice; ENL Terminal.
Available statistics from the Nigerian Port Authority indicate that only ENL terminal handled all the vessels that called at the Lagos Port Complex with rice last month.
According to the details that were made available to our correspopndent, seven vessels came into the port in February with rice and the first week of February recorded 39,585 metric tonnes which came aboard two vessels, namely: MV TimiosStarvos which arrived the terminal on the 1st of February with 19,600 metric tonnes and MarcelosTres which discharged 19,985 metric tones on the 2nd of February.
The 2nd week of last month recorded a total of 23,000 metric tonnes which arrived on MV I.D Pioneer.
However, the last of the month of February recorded importation of the highest volume of rice; on the 25th, a vessel called Harmony SW brought in 13,000 metric tonnes of rice, a day later, the controversial Fourseas SW discharged a total of 27,600 metric tonnes. This is an indication that Fourseas SW brought into Nigeria the highest tonnes. On the 27th, a vessel called Amentor came in with 13,000 metric tonnes, while on the 28th Western Oslo came in with 21,000 metric tonnes ..
Chairman of Ocean glory commodities Limited, Reverend Cole Chiori recently told Shipping Position Daily that there is a colossal loss to the economy when rice is brought into the country through the land borders as there is no duty payment.
According to him, “the Customs should look inwards to that regards in order to meet the N1 trillion target by the federal government. ‘’There is no point bringing rice into the country from the land borders while we have seaport because those who bring in rice from the land borders do not pay duty. Most of them come into the country duty free and that is why rice has flooded the Nigerian market and those that come in through the authentic routes run at a loss.’’
‘’If duty is collected on every good that come into the country ,then it is not a problem on the part of the Nigeria Customs service to meet the N1trillion target by the Federal government, Cole had added.
It will be recalled that the Government has directed the Nigeria Customs Service to meet with the Trans Border Traders Association of Nigeria [TBTAN] on modalities for actualizing the plans for the importation of rice through the nation’s land borders.
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